9 Comments
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Zach Shull's avatar

This is a rad write up - thanks! Dying to know where you got those stickers, especially the poison oak one!

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Mike Idell's avatar

I made that one...shoot me a message if you want one!

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mem's avatar

Planar 2D-12v made camping in the cold one of my favorite activities. The portable kits are nice because you can store them in the summer and service them easier. Good stuff. Skip the chinese heaters and the Webasto.

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Mike Idell's avatar

i dig it. Will check that one out

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Foster Huntington's avatar

Skip the kraut heater

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Sterling Bennett's avatar

Super helpful write up thanks Mike. We’re in the market right now for one and this is helping our decision making. 👊🏼

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Lou Tamposi's avatar

Dope set up! I'm jealous. I've been dreaming about a similar set up... but right now I settle for hitching a Pakmule on my 4Runner and loading up with kids, wife, dog, and supplies for our adventures.

Just out of curiosity, are you worried about your Tacoma's payload capacity when you've got your truck fully loaded with the camper, a few friends, and coolers full of food (and hopefully a deer or some elk quarters or a boatload of fish)?

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Mike Idell's avatar

That'll get the job done!

Before I put the camper on, I upgraded the suspension and leaf springs to ones that are designed to accommodate a constant bed weight of up to 600lbs. The truck actually drives better when there is 400+ lbs of weight in it than it does when the bed is empty. Never had any issues with overloading it - even when driving home with the max end of that capcity (i.e. roughly 600 lbs of gear and game). I have noticed though that overloading the hitch carrier can make things wonky at high speeds due to a change in center of gravity (I think?), so I try to even out weight distribution back there as best as I can.

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Mark Mear's avatar

I notice a change in my 4Runner when I stack bikes on the hitch even. The wife’s EBike plus a few more full suspensions on the rack make a small but noticeable difference when it’s already set up for a camping mission.

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